A/N: Yeah! Rose wakes up! It's boring without the main charrie x3
I'm happy because you have to use the scroll thingy to get to my next chappie :3 Also, it's been a while since we checked up on Andy, right? XD
In regards to the spoiler contest, Dawnleapord mentioned "Mai being bored". That's part of it… Keep trying, though! Not quite! Recap, reviewer who guesses the connection to chapter 15 and a certain event that happened gets a spoiler on the topic of their choice!
Chapter 21: Senses
I opened my eyes and immediately wondered where I was at and why I was there. I remembered little; the concert… the strong man… the kicks…
I was dead. I knew it the moment I remembered the painful kicking, my head making contact with the concrete…
Then why was I looking at a ceiling and not clouds, or endless expanse of sky? And why was there a slight pressure on my leg…?
I blinked and turned my head. There was floor, and wall. I looked down. I was still wearing my off-the-shoulder top and my hair was still the color of strawberries. I was on a couch. How disorientating. I expected… well, I don't know what I expected, but I didn't expect death to be like this.
I looked over at my leg, where the pressure was below my knee. I blinked. There was a red-headed boy in a striped shirt leaning his crossed arms on my leg, resting his cheek on his arms and looking away from me. Matt.
I tapped his shoulder. "Go away, Mels," he responded. Mello poked his head out from a corner. So… what then?
He said something along the lines of "What did I do?" but I didn't pay attention to him. He was so close to me… Mello glanced at me and I saw his eyes widen before he ducked back around the corner. Perhaps I was in a dream or something, going to the last place that comforted me. I was pretty sure he was going to the kitchen if I was dreaming that I was back at the house.
I tapped his shoulder again, and he stiffened and looked at me. His goggles were pulled up on his head, so his eyes were bright as ever. I just had to check…
"Matt, why's you kill yourself?" I wondered aloud. He blinked, so I went on. "At least I know I didn't go to Hell…" I was suddenly aware that his hand was in mine. How long had he been holding my hand?
I didn't have much longer to dwell on this, for the dark blanket that was called sleep pulled me under.
I woke up again, and Matt was sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch and playing on his DS. I yawned. How long had I been out? I hadn't ruled out the possibility of death, either, but it seemed unlikely that the next life was supplied with Nintendo. Plus he was using the charger. Another fact supporting that it was real; it still needed power.
My neck was stiff, as if I had just gotten over migraine. I wasn't sure whether to blame the vodka or the concrete. I reached up to brush my bangs out of my face when I noticed that I was hooked up to an IV. So I was alive.
I stared at the tubes leading from my wrist to a bag of water hanging from a rack. I was dehydrated, but couldn't they just soak me every now and then? Surely I would just absorb it all. I hated all medical equipment, from needles to the heart monitor. The whole aspect reminded me of death...
I groaned. Matt turned his head, snapping his Nintendo shut. Immediately he was up, gently placing his hand on my arm and the other by my head, on the couch. He looked at my eyes, when I absent mindedly wondered how they had gotten my contacts out.
"How do you feel?" he asked. His eyes were franticly roving across my whole face, as if looking for some sign I might be in pain. Apparently he found none, as his own face relaxed as he moved his hand from my arm to my shoulder, his thumb resting on my collar bone. "I was worried, you know. Me and Mels both." Apparently, Mello either heard his own name or guessed I was awake, and came out of his room, walking down the hall.
"Rise and shine, Sleepin' Beauty," he said, sitting on the couch by my leg. "Welcome back to the real world," he chuckled.
I tilted my head, looking at the wall just behind Matt's shoulder. I blinked a few timed. They were giving me so much attention; it made me feel loved.
I suddenly remembered something. "You saved me," I said. Or attempted to say, that is. My voice was hoarse, so I more half whispered half croaked than said anything. Matt closed his eyes and smiled as if he had been relieved of some burden.
"Yes, we did. You're talking," he smiled wider. Well what else was I supposed to do, bark?
"Of course, silly," I flicked his node. Mello posed his head over Matt's shoulder.
"You were out for only three days, we expected you to sleep longer," he said. I blinked. Three days?
"Oh…" I said. Normally, three days would be considered a long time to sleep. But the recent events were not normal. I reached back to scratch the back of my head, when I felt my hair. It was stiff, dried and crusty. Oh, it's… blood… I blinked. Matt smirked.
"See, we have the decency most hospitals don't. We didn't strip you down and put you in the shower while you were still unconscious," he said, indicating the blood that had dried in my hair. "Although we did try to get the majority out of your hair…" he bit back a smile as I sat up, and he took his hand off my shoulder, taking his place by my side on the couch. I resisted the urge to lie back down over his lap; instead I settled for holding his hand and leaning on Mello's shoulder.
"Thank you, for that…" I blushed. "But... what happened… exactly?" I asked, trying to make light of the confusing thoughts swirling around. Matt's expression darkened.
"You were kidnapped at the concert," Mello said for him. "Matt almost murdered four people for it, too. With my gun," I could hear the sigh in his voice. I, on the other hand, was staring at Matt. He was… different. Lighter and more… happier. As if he was suddenly… free of something.
"Hmm…" I said. "I... I think I'm going to take a shower, now…" I said, standing up. Matt and Mello looked at each other, Matt's hands momentarily extending, ready to help if I fell, but I had it under control; if I fell, the worst that would happen was falling… and landing on Matt's lap.
I walked down the hall, my eyes sweeping over the familiar walkway. I knew it well; the walls were a nice tannish color, complimenting the wood doors. I walked into my room to grab some clothes, and took in the room for what felt like the first time. I had almost lost all of this…
I grinned. I hadn't lost it. And I hadn't lost Matt or Mello. Even though it was because of them… But that didn't matter. I was here. And they were here. Nothing else mattered.
A/N: Gahh! I has writer's block again! D: bleh, but I already know what next chappie's gonna b... =/
Also,, Rose will not be in Stowaway, moony. I'm just too lazy to PM you.